• Social learning theory as applied to gender development.

SLt

acknowledges how gender appropriate behaviours learnt through observation of others and seeing how they are rewarded this is known as vicarious reinforcement , where if a child sees another rewarded for displaying same sex behaviours such as a boy playing sports being praised or a girl seeing her mum putting on makeup one achieving compliments, this makes the child also want to receive the same validation so they imitate

Why would VR occur

VR usually occurs if the role model being observed if of the same sex or has qualities the child would like to posses or if they are influential in the Childs life eg a parent or an older sibling

meditational processes

Behaviour is imitated if 4 meditational processes are performed , these are attention retention reproduction and motivation

AO3- supportive research

Smith and lloyd 23 boys 32 girls, adults were observed interacting with babies who were dressed in clothes stereotypically associated with either boys or girls, the adults unknowingly reinforced gender appropriate behaviour such as they encouraged ‘boys’ for more active play and ‘girls’ were given more cuddly toys showing gender appropriate behaviours stamped through parents from infancy through differential reinforcement

AO3- Ignores bio factors

ignored the role of genetics and chromosomes and only focuses on the environmental factors, however bio factors need to be taken. into account shown through the case of David Reimer where even after reinforcement and his environment portraying him as. agri he was unable to override his male biological nature making the theory reductions as it only looks at social interaction nd doesn’t consider biological factors.

AO3- Real world application

This explanation helps explain how gender roles are culturally transmitted using reinforcement , modelling and societal expectations helping inform parental strategies and medial representation to encourage gender neutral environments, providing insight into how to challenge and change restrictive gender norms